Target is a great place to stock up on everything from groceries to beauty products to clothing. College students to families with three children to older couples don't have trouble making a weekly or monthly trip to Target to buy essential items and a few indulgences. If Target is a regular destination for you, why not take a few simple steps to save a little extra money during your shopping trips? Even if you aren't interested in couponing or anything extreme, it isn't hard to start saving a few bucks. Take one or more of the following tips, and you'll be shaving noticeable savings off of each receipt in no time.

[I personally verified all of the information in this article in late December 2013. Please note that it is subject to change at any time without notice.]

How can you save money at Target?

Popular Options

REDCard

Pharmacy Rewards

Cartwheel App

Weekly Ad

Coupons

Price Matching

Learning the Markdown Schedule

Clearance

Comparing In Store and Online Prices

Repackaged Items / Online Returns

How to SAVE MONEY at TARGET

Source

REDCard members also get access to exclusive Target offers!

REDCard

Target REDcard Debit and REDcard Credit both give you 5% savings on every Target purchase. The application process is simple and straightforward. Once you are approved, you receive a card in the mail in 7-10 business days. As soon as you have activated your card, you can start saving.

In addition to the 5% savings in store AND at target.com, REDcards come with the following benefits:

Free shipping at target.com with no minimum purchase or membership fee

30 extra days for returning items

1% donation of purchases to the eligible K-12 school of your choosing

Selecting a RedCard...what are the differences?

RedCard Debit

RedCard Credit

Works like a check by taking money from a checking account

Charge all Target and target.com purchases

No annual fee

No annual fee [check current rates and fees]

Secure PIN access

Manage account and make payments online

Maximum cash withdrawal of $40 at checkout in store

Source

Pharmacy Rewards

Target has a Pharmacy Rewards program that awards a certificate for a 5% off day of Target shopping when you fill five eligible prescriptions at their pharmacy. You can combine these savings with the REDcard discount for a 10% off shopping trip. If you are planning to make a bigger purchase, such as TV or a grill, it is great to maximize these savings. If you already use the Target pharmacy on a regular basis, there is no reason not to sign up for the rewards program.

The Cartwheel App in action. | Source

Cartwheel App

There are hundreds of Target discounts available through their Cartwheel app, which is free for both Android and iPhone users. You can sign up with an email address or Facebook account. The discounts range from 5% to 30% and cover everything from baby to grocery to health to luggage. The app includes a number of neat features such as browsing the Cartwheel activity of your Facebook friends.

Simply add offers to a personalized Cartwheel barcode. You can print your barcode or have it scanned right on your smartphone at the store. Discounts can be used an infinite amount of times as long as they are still active. Cartwheel offers can be combined with Target REDcards and Target and manufacturer coupons.

Download the App Today

3 Easy Ways To Save Money Shopping At Target!

Make sure that you are viewing the ad for your local store. | Source

Weekly Ad

The Target weekly ad is readily available online through target.com for those who do not get it through a newspaper. Make sure that you are always viewing the ad for your local store to ensure that you are getting all applicable offers.

Sign up online to get an email with a weekly ad reminder and/or weekly ad picks!

Coupons

There are several options for shopping with coupons at Target. The general rule is that you can stack ONE Target coupon (mobile or online) with ONE manufacturer coupon. These coupons can all be used in conjunction with REDcard discounts and Cartwheel offers unless stated otherwise.

Online. Target has coupons available right through their website at coupons.target.com. You can print these coupons or send them to your smartphone.

Manufacturer. Don't hesitate to clip and use manufacturer coupons from newspaper coupon sections and websites.

When you shop in store at Target, don't forget to check out the coupons that you sometimes get with your receipt. They print Target exclusive coupons as well as coupons for other retail and online stores such as Sports Authority and Shutterfly. As these coupons are chosen based on your purchases, they are likely to be useful.

EXTREME COUPONING TIPS - SELECTING COUPONS - how to use coupons

Price Matching

Target matches prices in competitor ads. The product must have the exact same brand name and model number, and the ad must be from within seven days of the purchase. Target does not match prices from target.com or any other online retailer. However, if they put the same item on sale within one week of your purchase, they will refund the difference.

Please note that it is always best practice to check with your local store to confirm the markdown schedule as there may be regional differences.

Look for the red clearance sticker at Target for savings of anywhere from 15 percent to 90 percent. | Source

Clearance Tips

Prices that end in an 8 (i.e. $10.08) are going to get marked down again. Prices that end in a 4 (i.e. $9.04) are not going to get any lower.

Typically Target knocks prices down every two weeks. Items continue to be marked down until they sell or reach 75% off. The knock down day may vary in different stores.

Target frequently uses the end caps of the aisles for discounted items. Even when these end caps are labeled "clearance," the items are often jumbled together. You may have to hunt to find the deep discounts.

If you're looking for clearance holiday merchandise, you have to act quickly. The first three days following the holiday, items are half off. For the next three days, they are 75% off. For two days after that, they are 90% off. Whatever is left at the end of those final two days gets donated to Goodwill.

The Target in store and online prices are not necessarily the same. | Source

Compare In Store / Online Prices

Target does not necessarily have the same prices for items in store and online. While it may be more of a hassle than the few bucks that you could save to price compare every item, it can be worth it for larger purchases. Before you pick up a new set of furniture or a high-end camera, check out both sets of prices. Don't forget that if you have the REDcard, you'll get free shipping for the online purchases.

Online Shopping Tips

The packaging may be rough on a returned item, but as long as the item itself is okay, it's worth considering. | Source

Repackaged Items / Online Returns

Most repackaged returned items and online returns are sent to the shelves at deep discounts. While their packages may be in rough shape, the items are usually just fine. You can't count on finding these returned items, but it's worth taking advantage of the great prices when you do come across them.

Multiple price scanners are conveniently located around every Target store. | Source

Don't forget to use the scanners!

When in doubt, don't hesitate to check a price with one of the in store scanners. They are strategically placed around the store and should not be hard to spot. If you frequent the same Target locations, you'll start to remember the scanner spots. You can always have a checker take an item off of your cart, but it's nice to keep a running total going as you shop so there are no major surprises.

Are you looking for more information about saving money at Target? Check out these great resources.

Comments

No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites.

sending

AUTHOR

Rose Clearfield

3 years agofrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I'm glad that tip is helpful for you, Marlo!

MarloByDesign

3 years agofrom United States

Great clearance tips about the prices that end in an 8 (i.e. $10.08) will be marked down again...I would have never figured that out! Rated 'Useful'.

AUTHOR

Rose Clearfield

4 years agofrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Cyndi, I'm glad that you were able to learn a few things from this article! I don't know what I would do if the closest Target were 35 miles away haha. Currently I live 3 minutes away from a Target. Good luck with your Mother's Day shopping.

Vicki, I know, it's a little unnerving. The breach was with all debit and credit cards, not just REDCards...

Victoria Lynn

4 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

I like that they have the 5% off with their card, but I'm kind of scared to use it since they had that security breach thing with the cards. Surely, though, security is much tighter now . . . ?

Cynthia Calhoun

4 years agofrom Western NC

I'm impressed! I had no idea about the prices ending in 8 and 4 and what that meant and the RedCard seems like a great value, too. I wish I lived closer to a Target, but I do make it to the one that's about 35 miles away from time to time. I might be doing some Mother's Day shopping there this weekend, so this is very timely. Thank you!

AUTHOR

Rose Clearfield

5 years agofrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Thanks, Obreinfamily!

Amy Goldstein

5 years agofrom Chesterfield

great research... thank u

AUTHOR

Rose Clearfield

5 years agofrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Thanks, Anna! Target is definitely one of my favorite stores, too. It's great that you're able to use the Cartwheel app. I'm not a big fan of store cards of any kind. I'm giving the REDcard a try, though. We'll see how it goes.

Anna Marie Bowman

5 years agofrom Florida

These are great tips!!! I love shopping at Target! It's my favorite store, and have taken advantage of the Cartwheel app. I didn't know that they offered a debit card, though. I am hesitant to sign up for any store credit cards. I hate credit cards. A debit card, though, is a good option.

AUTHOR

Rose Clearfield

5 years agofrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I also live very close to a Target and appreciate their organization. That's too bad that you've had a couple issues with them. I just signed up for a REDcard but am a little dubious after the recent security breach, too. Currently my husband and I use a credit union for the majority of our savings, and they are great about alerting us to potential fraud. Is Target as good about that with the REDcard? I don't know. We'll see how it goes.

Kathleen Cochran

5 years agofrom Atlanta, Georgia

Target is the closest store to my house and I've always like the way the store is organized. I've had a couple of red flags with Target over the years. Bought an electric blanket for a Christmas present in the fall, found out it didn't work when we opened it on Christmas, and Target made us return it ourselves to the manufacturer for repairs because the receipt was more than 30 days old. Also they call their customers "guests" which is never a good sign for customer service.

I have considered the red card, but had doubts about the corporate policy and since the debacle over the holiday buying season, I'm wondering if my doubts were well-founded. Would like to hear your take on that episode.

AUTHOR

Rose Clearfield

5 years agofrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Vicki, I just ordered a REDcard this week and am excited to start using it. I do go to Target...a lot and will definitely save with it. I'm glad that the price markdowns and markdown day information is helpful.

PegCole, thanks for the feedback!

drpennypincher, as Cartwheel is free, I would definitely give it a try. Even if you only save a dollar or two per trip, it adds up over time.

Dr Penny Pincher

5 years agofrom Iowa, USA

Cartwheel looks promising. Thanks for sharing all these ways to save at Target!

Peg Cole

5 years agofrom Northeast of Dallas, Texas

So much information to digest here about one of my favorite stores. I love the way you've put the article together with your related hubs as links at the end. The pictures were great, too. Thanks so much for the tips on saving at Target.

Victoria Lynn

5 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

I don't go to Target much, but when I do, I use my redcard! That's neat about the prices ending in 8 and 4--and the markdown days. These are great tips! Sharing!

AUTHOR

Rose Clearfield

5 years agofrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I'm glad that you were able to get a lot out of this article, MsDora! Thanks!

Dora Weithers

5 years agofrom The Caribbean

I didn't know any of this. Thank you for sharing. This is really very helpful. Voted Up!

AUTHOR

Rose Clearfield

5 years agofrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Jamie, I verified that schedule through several different sources. I would still check with your local Target to make sure that there aren't any differences. Once you get in the habit of checking sales of certain items, it should be pretty obvious. I appreciate the blog link!

Thanks, Kejanny!

Kejanny

5 years agofrom Papua New Guinea

Very useful hub. Thanks

Jamie Jensen

5 years agofrom Chicago

Thanks for the great article! I thought I knew all the ways to save money at Target but I could never quite nail down the markdown schedule. I totally copied it down in my Filofax. :) I'll link you when I show that page on my blog. :)

AUTHOR

Rose Clearfield

5 years agofrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Thanks, kikalina and FlourishAnyway! It is amazing how many options there are for saving at Target.

FlourishAnyway

5 years agofrom USA

Great tips for those who shop at Target! Very nicely constructed hub.

kikalina

5 years agofrom Europe

Bunch of great tips. We do not have target in this part of Europe but I am impressed at the possibilities to save at this store.

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

This is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)

Google AdSense Host API

This service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)

This is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)

Facebook Login

You can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)

Maven

This supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)

We may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.

Conversion Tracking Pixels

We may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.

Statistics

Author Google Analytics

This is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)

Comscore

ComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)

Amazon Tracking Pixel

Some articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)